Marquez Lopez: We’re able to compete with Al Duhail and keep our chance to qualify for final

Lucas Mendes: We’ve to play with great focus against Al Duhail to score win

Al Wakrah coach Marquez Lopez and player Lucas Mendes spoke to the media ahead of their Qatar Cup 2023 semifinal against Al Duhail, to be played at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium of Al Sadd club on Thursday, February 9.

Marquez said, “Facing Al Duhail is important to us and we will work to do our best to win and qualify for the final, and we will try to improve ourselves. We accepted the loss to Al Duhail in the league championship and we seek improvement in the Qatar Cup match and a berth in the final.

“In the last four matches against Al Duhail, we won three and lost only one. This is very excellent for us and we focus on the way the Al Duhail team plays and studies it well to provide the best.

“Regarding the pressure of matches on Al Wakrah team of late, I would say that we have to deal with it well. It is not the main reason for our negative results recently and we are preparing for the match well to keep our chance.

“Al Duhail are a very strong and reputed team and they are at the top of QNB Stars League table currently. We will be fully ready to play the match with full force.”

Mendes said, “This match is of big importance and we must play with great concentration against Al Duhail in order to win and qualify for the final.

“Our focus is on the match and we will try to perform better than the last league match.

“I know the Al Duhail team very well, having played for them for a long time. We have the ability to compete with might and win to reach the final. Al Wakrah have  good group of players and we have the ability to compete strongly to win and qualify for the final.”